DMX first posthumous album Exodus released on Friday (May 28), seven weeks after his untimely death. But among the myriad of guest features, which included Jay Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne among others, Pop Smoke was noticeably absent.
Not long before DMX passed away, the Ruff Ryders legend appeared on an episode of Drink Champs once again confirming Pop Smoke would appear on the 13-track project. During an album listening party earlier this month, Swizz Beatz mentioned Pop Smoke didn’t make the cut but didn’t really explain why — until now.
Speaking to The Breakfast Club, Swizz explained, “They used the verse already. I know X wouldn’t want an old verse. We fought for it.” He also said the verse was “pulled out of nowhere” then added, “It was two verses and both of them was used. We went to get another verse and it was used.”
Swizz then reached out to Moneybagg Yo to fill the void on “Money Money Money.”
“I just put Moneybagg on the song,” he said. “Not that they the same energy, but they the same demographic. X wanted to touch that part too. I’m not mad at it. I like Moneybagg verse better anyway.”